Cupola



D. E. BAYNE Oct. 5, 1965 GUPOLA Filed July 19, 1963 INVENTOR. 004/410 5. 5451 5 United States Patent 3,209,669 CUPOLA Donald E. Bayne, 3131 E. McMillan Road, Muskegon, Mich. Filed July 19, 1963, Ser. No. 296,260 4 Claims. (Cl. 98-42) This invention relates to cupolas, and more particularly to a cupola assembled of preformed modular components.

Cupolas lend decorative beauty to building structures such as homes, stables and other buildings. They are conventionally custom-made and specially mounted on the building when the latter is originally constructed. Many people, however, desire to have a cupola on their home or other building after it has been built. To do this requires the time of a custom builder who must specially make and install the fancy wooden construction. Consequently, few people care to spend the large amount necessary for the resulting benefit of a cupola.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a unique preformed cupola construction adaptable to mass production, providing a custom appearance, and mountable on any building at any time.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cupola which can be readily installed without special carpentry skills, and can moreover be built and installed in a relatively short period of time.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cupola assembled from preformed modular units, mass-produced on an inexpensive basis. The cupola may be assembled to a controlled height. The assembly is moreover readily mounted on a building after or during assembly of the modular units.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cupola construction formed of interengaged modular units having excellent interior venting between the joined modules.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lightweight preformed cupola capable of being sealingly anchored to any roof whether flat or peaked, in an expensive, readily installed manner.

These and several other objects of this invention will become apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the novel cupola shown installed on a roof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the cupola components;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, end elevational view of the modular cupola units showing their interfitting relationship; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the guide and spacing brackets forming part of the cupola construction.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the novel cupola assembly is installed on a peaked roof 12 of a building which may be a home, a barn, a stable, or some other building.

The cupola assembly 10 includes a base 14, a plurality of light, preformed, modular units 16, and a closure cap 18. If desired, an ornament such as the weather vane 20 may be mounted on the small flat top of the closure cap.

The base 14 is symmetrical and preferably square in cross-sectional configuration. When fitting on a peaked roof, it has an inverted V-shaped bottom with an angle corresponding to the particular roof upon which the cupola is installed. A rubber or plastic seal 22 extends around the bottom peripheral edge of base 14. It receives the edge of the base and seals tightly against the roof top when the unit is fastened down. The base member is hollow, and includes an upwardly extending, square, sup- 3,299,669 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 port ridge or flange 24 of somewhat smaller dimensions than the remainder of the base, to cooperate with one of the plurality of interfitting modular components.

Each of the modular components 16 includes an upper, peripheral, upwardly extending rib or flange of the same diameter as that of the base flange 24, and a lower, outwardly downwardly flared skirt around its periphery. These modular components are stacked one upon the other in general telescopically interfitting fashion, with the flange of each module fitting within the confines of the skirt of the one thereabove. The skirt of the lowermost module extends around the base flange 24. unit. The cap has a sloped top to shed weather precipi- 30 (FIG. 4) are mounted to opposite sides of modular units 16. These guide each modular unit in its relationship with the base or the unit therebelow. They also space the modular units from each other. Each of these brackets has its back 31 (upper end) riveted to the upwardly extending vertical flange of one of the modular units by rivets 36 (FIG. 3). The spaced legs 33 and 35 of the bifurcated lower portion straddle the vertical rib of the base or the modular unit therebelow (FIG. 3).

Since each of the modular units is square, and the brackets are pre-mounted before assembly on two opposite sides of each unit, each unit installed is rotated with respect to the modular unit therebelow to prevent interference between the brackets. These brackets enable the modular units to have venting spaces 38 therebetween to allow ventilation of the cupola interior. To prevent insects or weather precipitation such as snow or hail from entering the cupola, a peripheral screen 40 is installed inside the unit. The number of modular units employed in the cupola is selected to provide a height of predetermined amount. The stack of units is enclosed on the upper end by closure cap 18, which has a peripheral downwardly extending skirting flange 42 to encompass the upwardly extending flange of the top modular unit. The cap has a sloped top to shed weathe precipitation, and provide an attractive appearance. The cupola components are preferably formed of plastic materials, preferably a Fiberglas-reinforced plastic. It must be capable of withstanding the weather. Any of several suitable materials can be employed, such as polystyrene, a polyacrylic, a polyvinyl or copolymers. Alternatively, the cupola can be formed of sheet metal if desired.

The base initially can have a flat bottom. The installer cuts a notch to match the roof angle. Slight irregularities are accommodated and sealed by the peripheral resilient seal 22, which is cut to a length to suit the bottom edge.

The entire assembly is anchored to the roof 12 by tie elements or rods 50 and 51 which may actually be legs of the same inverted U-shaped rod. The upper end of the rod is attached to a metal bracket 52, which has its downwardly depending end flanges riveted to the cap 18. The tension elements 50 and 51 extend beneath the base 14 of the cupola a sufficient amount to extend through the roof 12. The threaded lower ends of the rods are inserted through a pair of openings in an anchor plate 60. This anchor plate is mounted beneath the peak of the roof to bear against the undersurface thereof. Nuts 62 are fastened on the lower threaded ends of rods 50 and 51. Instead of the threaded rods, other equivalent tension or tie elements such as heavy wire can be used. These then would be twisted together beneath the plate 60 or its equivalent.

If desired, illumination can be provided in the cupola by installing a light 70 with suitable electrical lines 72 leading from a connector 74 associated with suitable switching means (not shown). Preferably, the plastic components forming the cupola are preformed from a translucent plastic material to enable the light to be visible through the walls, and provide an extremely attractive unit after dark as well as during the daylight.

The rod or equivalent ties 50 and 51 are made of length to suit the height of the cupola desired.

It will be readily observed that the components of the cupola can be mass produced to preform the hollow symmetrical modular units 16, cap 18, and base 14. The assembly can be sold as a package unit in unassembled form. The purchaser-homeowner then merely cuts out notches in opposite sides of the open-bottom base to suit the angle of his roof. He then installs the desired number of modular components 16. The first unit is mounted on the base by placing the legs of the guide and spacing brackets 30 straddle the base flange 24. The subsequent modular units are placed one upon the other by straddling the bracket legs over the vertical flanges of the units therebelow. The screen 40, if used, is inserted inside the units. When the desired height is reached, the cap 18 is installed with its downwardly depending tie elements 50 and 51 inserted through the units and base and through holes previously drilled through the roof.

After the assembly is complete on top of the house, the anchor plate 60 is placed over the lower ends of the tie elements underneath the peak of the roof and nuts 62 are tightened to draw the tension components down tightly. If the light fixture 70 is used, it is electrically connected in conventional manner.

The result is an attractive, lightweight, stable cupola which is inexpensive to manufacture, purchase and install, attractive by daylight and at night. It has good ventilation. The base is readily cut to fit any roof. It is sealed to prevent any leakage. It is well within the financial range of the average householder. Additional advantages will become apparent to those in this art after studying the principles and the particular form of the invention illustrated. Certain minor modifications may be made in the illustrated form of the structure without departing from the inventive principles taught. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to the particular illustrated form, but only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein.

I claim:

1. A preformed cupola capable of on site assembly comprising: a mounting base to fit a roof; a plurality of like, hollow modular units interfitted with each other and with said base to form a stack; a plurality of depending guide and spacing brackets mounted on each of said units on the inner walls thereof with bracket portions at lower portions of the unit, and releasably interfitted with the modular unit therebelow, thereby aligning, spacing, and stabilizing the interfitted units; a closure cap interfitted with the uppermost unit; and tie means attached to and extending from said cap, down through said units and base to secure said cap, units, and base together for mounting the assembly to a roof.

2. A cupola of modular construction capable of on site assembly comprising: a base having a roof-mounting underside, and a square, hollow, peripheral, upwardly extending upper flange; a stack of a plurality of like modular sections above said base, each having a lower, outwardly extending, peripheral skirt, and an upwardly extending peripheral flange, the flange of each section fitted within the skirt of the section thereabove thereby aligning, spacing, and stabilizing the interfitted units; a closure cap interfitted over the upper section; a plurality of spacer brackets between said sections; and tie elements attached to and extending from said cap, down through said modular sections and said base and extending below said base for insertion through a roof; and a detachable anchor plate received on the lower ends of said tie elements for attachment beneath the roof, to secure said cap, units, and base together and to anchor the assembly to a roof.

3. The cupola in claim 2 wherein each of said spacer brackets is h-shaped, having its upper end attached to one of said brackets, and having its legs straddling the flange of the section therebelow.

4. A cupola assembled of modular preformed units comprising: a hollow base having a bottom and an upstanding upper rib; a peripheral sealing element fitted around the peripheral edge of said base; a plurality of like, modular, hollow, square units, each having an upstanding peripheral rib on its upper end, and an outwardly-flared, downwardly depending skirt on its lower end; each skirt circumscribing the rib of the unit therebelow; a plurality of spacing and aligning brackets mounted inside each of said units and including a bifurcated lower end straddling the rib of the unit therebelow; a top cap interfitted with and over the uppermost modular unit; tie means extending from said cap down through said units and base for attachment through a roof; and an anchor plate on the lower end of said tie means beneath the roof, to secure said cap, units, and base together and to anchor the assembly to a roof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,536 1/93 Boston 52244 1,086,160 2/ 14 Graef 5272 2,473,728 6/49 Rutledge 189-36 2,737,876 3/56 Smith 9842 2,803,184 8/57 Wasserman 98-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 928,997 6/ 47 France.

983,788 2/51 France.

496,310 11/38 Great Britain.

507,787 6/ 39 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner. 

1. A PREFORMED CUPOLA CAPABLE OF ON SITE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A MOUNTING BASE TO FIT A ROOF; A PLURALITY OF LIKE, HOLLOW MODULAR UNITS INTERFITTED WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH SAID BASE TO FORM A STACK; A PLURALITY OF DEPENDING GUIDE AND SPACING BRACKETS MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID UNITS ON THE INNER WALLS THEREOF WITH BRACKET PORTIONS AT LOWER PORTIONS OF THE UNIT, AND RELEASABLY INTERFITTED WITH THE MODULAR UNIT THEREBELOW, THEREBY ALIGNING, SPACING, AND STABILIZING THE INTERFITTED UNITS; A CLOSURE CAP INTERFITTED WITH THE UPPERMOST UNIT; AND TIE MEANS ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CAP, DOWN THROUGH SAID UNITS AND BASE TO SECURE SAID CAP, UNITS, AND BASE TOGETHER FOR MOUNTING THE ASSEMBLY TO A ROOF. 